Clothesline



June 18, 1946. A. E. )VHELAN' CLOTHESLINE Filed April 25, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor A 2.2m: E. Whelan,

June 1 8, 1946. A. E. WHELAN CLOTHESLINE Filed April 25, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor ALma E. wire Ian.

Patented June 18, .1946

UNITED STATES PATENT foa v Alma E. Whelan, Altadena, Calif.

Application April 25, 1945, Serial No. 590,174

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a clothesline, and more particularly to such a clothesline adapted to be constructed of metallic sections or the like.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved clothesline having means associated therewith adapted to perform the function of conventional clothes pins, such means being permanently associated with the line.

An additional important object of the invention is the provision of such a line provided with means whereby a plurality of independent section may be readily connected together and/or disconnected as desired in order to form a line of any desired length.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such a line wherein the cli s associated therewith for holding the clothes to the line, are provided with improved resilient means whereby the same may be readily separated to release the clothes or insert the clothes therebetween, their normal resiliency serving to hold the clothes securely to the line.

Other objects reside in the provision of such a clothesline that will be sturdy and durable in com struction, reliable and efficient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

Other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is. a side elevational view of a fra ment of clothesline constructed in accordance with this inventive concept, showing a plurality of interconnected sections, the extremity of one of which is afilxed to a suitabl support.

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of portions of the structure shown in Figure 1, certain portions thereof being broken away to disclose underlying structure.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Figure '2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a constructional detail.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the draw ings.

Having reference now to the drawings, the clothesline of the instant invention is comprised of a plurality of sections, which may be double,

as generally indicated at I l, or single as generally indicated at I2, secured together in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter.

Each of the links I2 is comprised of a tubular member I4, provided in its upper face with two spaced slots or apertures l5, and at its base with a longitudinally extending slot l5. Adapted to extend upwardly through the slots l5 are a pair of projecting lugs l1 corrugated for reinforcement purposes as at l8, and provided with fingergrip portions IS, the lower extremities of which are transversely corrugated as at 2B, and termihate in clothes gripping extremities 2!, which the normal resiliency of the member I4 serves to hold in closed juxtaposition. Thus, it will be seen that when the finger-grip portions [9 are grasped, the slot is expanded by the members 2| to separate the members 2! and to provide means whereby clothes or the like may be inserted between them. Upon release of the finger-grip portions IS, the resiliency of the member 14 causes the clamping portions 2| to firmly grasp the clothes. The up per surfaces of each of the members I are provided with keyhole slots 22 adjacent one end I4 thereof, adapted to engage the shanks of studs 23, affixed to the opposite ends M" of adjacent sections I 4, two studs being provided at each extremity M" of a section I 4 and two corresponding keyhole apertures 22 being provided at the other extremity M, the ends I4 are enlarged and adapted to overlie a substantial length of ends [4" to provide a relatively rigid connection.

The double members II are identical in construction and operation to the single members just described, with the exception of the fact that tubular member I4 is slightly greater than twice as long, and adapted to contain a pair of the clamping members instead of a single member.

An S-hook 28, the extremity of which is seecured as by a link 29 to an I-bolt 30 secured in any suitable supporting surface 3|, is adapted to engage in a slot 22 to support the extremities of the line.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved clothesline accomplishing all of the objects of this invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this in ventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

lar sections, said sections having cut-away portions at opposite ends thereof, keyhole apertures in the upper portions of one end thereof and studs at the other extremity, the studs of one section being adapted to engage the slots of a second section and clamping means secured in said tubular sections, said clamping mean including angularly disposed members having their extremities extending through said slots and secured in abut l ting relation by the resiliency of said sections.

ALMA E. WHELAN. 

